I want a FAL, but I can't afford the DSA, and fear the Century's. Has anyone tried the L1A1 built on the Imbel receivers?
Also, shouldn't the original L1A1's be allowed into this country because they were all built as Semi-Autos?

I don't have any experience with them per se, but in 1993 I picked up a Century L1A1, it's on an Imbel, and it's my favorite rifle. I am actually thinking about selling something and getting one of those.
If it's on an Imbel and for some reason you have trouble with it you can always send it to Azex, Arizona Response Systems, or GG Gunsmithing for correction. It would still be worth it, IMO.
Tim

<--- A right-wing sleeper cell of One.Somewhere in Kenya a village is missing its idiot

I've heard about some bad-mojo concerning Imbel's heat treating and hardness. It could be just hype.
A few years ago I had two Century Imbels that ticked along perfectly. I sold them, because I ran out of cheap .308.

It's all hype, I've built hundreds of FALs of varying types and seen exactly 2 bad Imbel receivers. Both were promptly and apologetically replaced by TDW. D.
New pics on site now and message board coming soon!
www.azexarms.com

The FAL being modelled by our own Miss Magnum below is a Centruy gun.
[img]albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1069148&a=12667483&p=47017417&Sequence=0[/img]
It has an Imbel receiver and came with the thumbhole stock. The receiver itself is cut for metric mags, but is also cut for the folcing cocking handle and the top cover legs of the inch gun. All the parts are inch, including the barrel, which uses the breeching washer. The muzzle threads were cut-off and recrowned by Century.
I installed a US inch gas piston and First Sons Enterprises hammer, trigger, and sear. I also use the US follower and floorplate for metric mags, since that's what the receiver is cut to take. That allowed me to use the original Brit furniture. The gun itself runs great.
The inch guns are semi's, but only because the various users installed a semi-only selector. On a genuine inch gun, if you swap the selector with one from an L2/C2 you have a select-fire weapon. So that pretty much validates the BATF view that it's a machinegun.
I have found Imbels to be fantastic receivers to build on, and would not hesitate to even try another Century if I could physically examine it before purchase.
Ross

i just picked up a century l1a1. It's on the POS hesse reciever but it was real cheap and it shoots well.
mike

The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory indefense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is moreimportant than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else issupplemental.

I have a FAL with L1a1 front end, a half-inch pattern Imbel receiver (folding cocking handle-metric mags only), and a STG lower. The ultimate Frankengun. It is reliable, but the finish obviously doesn't match from one end to the other. Even with 168gr BTHP Sierras, the best it will shoot is about 3 MOA.

If I were you, I would put the extra few bucks in and buy a DSA STG58A. I just got mine and it looks and runs like a brand new factory gun. It cost me $795 and $15 for shipping. It came in a hard case with the all the paper work and a new mag. I think its definitely worth it, especially if you are used to the fit and finish of most ARs. I think you will be disappointed with a CAI rifle. It doesn't look as nice and some don't shoot well. Why take out Rosie when Pam will go?!